Thyroiditis
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Treatment

How is thyroiditis treated?

Your treatment depends on what type of thyroiditis you have and what symptoms you are experiencing.

If you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, your doctor may prescribe a medicine called a beta blocker to lower your heart rate and reduce any tremors you may be experiencing. Since the symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be temporary, your doctor may taper the dose of this medicine as your symptoms improve.

If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, your doctor may prescribe thyroid hormone replacements to restore your body's hormone levels and shift your metabolism back to normal. It can take several tries to get the right dose of synthetic thyroid hormone. In some types of thyroiditis, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will improve over time and your doctor will slowly taper your dose of synthetic thyroid hormone.

If you have pain in your thyroid, your doctor may recommend a mild anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin) to manage the pain. Occasionally, severe thyroid pain requires treatment with steroid therapy.